Low-Cost Acoustically Sound Classroom: Innovative Eco-Friendly Solutions for Better Learning Environments
By Uttam Kumar Tamboli | B.Tech in Civil Engineering, LCIT College, Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh, India
Introduction
Acoustics play a crucial role in creating effective learning environments, yet many classrooms suffer from poor acoustical design, leading to decreased focus, poor listening, and ultimately a less-than-ideal learning experience. To tackle this prevalent issue, I, Uttam Kumar Tamboli, alongside my fellow students from the Civil Engineering department at LCIT College, Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh, India, conducted a project titled Low-Cost Acoustically Sound Classroom (LCASC). This project formed an essential component of my academic journey during my B.Tech degree, focusing on sustainable and affordable solutions for improving classroom acoustics.
What is Low-Cost Acoustically Sound Classroom (LCASC)?
The Low-Cost Acoustically Sound Classroom (LCASC) is an innovative approach that addresses the challenges of excessive noise and poor reverberation that adversely impact students’ ability to learn and teachers’ ability to instruct effectively. In many educational institutions, particularly those with limited budgets, acoustic improvements are often overlooked due to the high costs associated with traditional commercial solutions. LCASC offers a sustainable and cost-effective solution using waste materials with natural sound-absorbing properties to improve classroom acoustics.
Key Highlights of the LCASC Project
The primary objective of the Low-Cost Acoustically Sound Classroom is to transform the classroom environment in a way that enhances both learning and teaching experiences. Instead of using commercial soundproofing materials like polyurethane and Styrofoam, which are not only expensive but also environmentally harmful, our solution uses natural, recycled materials such as coconut husk, sawdust, and neem leaves. Here are some of the highlights:
- Sustainable and Eco-Friendly: By using materials like sawdust, neem leaves, and coconut husk, the Low-Cost Acoustically Sound Classroom setup makes use of resources that are either waste by-products or easily available natural materials. This reduces the carbon footprint and provides a more sustainable alternative to synthetic materials.
- Affordable Acoustic Solution: Unlike traditional commercial soundproofing solutions, which are often out of reach for most schools, the LCASC project aims to make acoustic improvements accessible to a wider range of educational institutions. The low-cost solution can be adapted to various classroom sizes, allowing schools with limited budgets to make their classrooms acoustically sound.
- Enhanced Learning Environment: With improved acoustics, students benefit from reduced background noise and better speech intelligibility, especially for those seated at the back of the classroom. Teachers, too, experience less vocal strain, which positively impacts their morale and overall teaching quality.
Why Does Classroom Acoustics Matter?
The Low-Cost Acoustically Sound Classroom addresses a significant issue faced by educational institutions globally. Poor classroom acoustics are one of the most overlooked factors that can affect the quality of education. Excessive noise and long reverberation times can create environments where students struggle to focus and understand lessons properly. Backbenchers often bear the brunt of this issue, as teachers’ voices may distort or become less audible. This problem directly impacts students’ ability to understand, learn, and stay engaged.
The LCASC Approach: An Innovative Solution
Our approach centers around providing a solution that is affordable, adaptable, and environmentally friendly. The Low-Cost Acoustically Sound Classroom project used easily accessible materials like:
- Coconut Husk: Known for its excellent sound absorption properties.
- Sawdust: A by-product that has innate sound-absorbing qualities, making it highly efficient for our acoustic needs.
- Neem Leaves: Apart from being a natural sound absorber, neem leaves provide anti-fungal and anti-bacterial benefits, which adds an extra layer of protection against health hazards.
We used these natural materials to fill tetra packs, which were then used as modular sound-absorbing units mounted on classroom walls. This creative, sustainable approach ensured that our Low-Cost Acoustically Sound Classroom setup provided an effective yet economical acoustic solution.
Project Outcomes and Observations
Our efforts with the Low-Cost Acoustically Sound Classroom resulted in significant improvements in reducing reverberation and background noise in the classroom. Testing the classroom with and without the LCASC setup showed that the reverberation time was brought closer to the ideal range, thereby enhancing the audio clarity during lectures. Furthermore, using waste materials not only helped in cost savings but also promoted eco-friendly construction practices, which is a critical focus in modern environmental engineering.
A Step Towards Sustainable Educational Infrastructure
Through this project, we aimed to demonstrate that impactful changes in the educational environment don’t always require costly solutions. The Low-Cost Acoustically Sound Classroom project is a step towards building sustainable educational infrastructure, focusing on practical, scalable solutions that can help bridge the gap between elite and underfunded institutions.
Our hope is that more educational facilities adopt such eco-friendly solutions, creating better environments for both teaching and learning. By providing effective, low-cost acoustic solutions, the LCASC project proves that every classroom can be transformed into a place where students listen better, understand more, and, as a result, learn more effectively.
Conclusion
The Low-Cost Acoustically Sound Classroom project represents an innovative, practical solution for schools and colleges that struggle with the high costs of commercial acoustic treatments. By focusing on the reuse of waste materials and leveraging naturally available resources, we have demonstrated that creating a conducive learning environment is possible without incurring excessive costs or harming the environment.
If you’re interested in more details about this research and how we implemented it, you can explore the full document in my portfolio section. Let’s work together towards sustainable solutions for a better educational experience.
